Sometimes moving up in the Howe Sound Men's Soccer League takes little more than playing a friendly game when the opposition doesn't show.
Villa FC gathered an easy three points on Sunday after Lil'WAT7uhl failed to muster enough players - for the second week in a row - to hit the fields at Brennan Park on Sunday (Nov. 4). Ironically, United FC lost the top spot to Brew Pub during their bye week the Sunday before after LilWAT7uh7 forfeited against Brew Pub. Since the past weekend was United FC's bye week, second-placed Brew Pub stepped out of bed and over the first place team in the standings.A rare friendly game ensued consisting of a mix of Villa, LilWAT7uhl and United FC players on the all-weather fields after United regained top spot with a 4-1 win over Tantalus Toner in an earlier game.
Meanwhile, Ellis Moving battled Whistler FC next door for positioning in the middle of the standings.It was a back and forth game on the all-weather gravel after the previous days' rains sloshed the grass fields. However, the intense level of play stayed the same.
Whistler got an early chance when forward Todd Rippon chased a bouncing ball moving toward Ellis keeper Kim Stanley. Rippon was able to place a header underneath, but the ball missed just wide of the goal.Rippon didn't miss twice.
On a penalty kick from just outside the 18-yard box, Rippon booted straight for the wall of bodies put up by the Ellis defenders. The defenders jumped causing the ball to deflect off a limb, which fooled Stanley momentarily between the posts. Stanley's diving attempt nicked the ball, but not enough to prevent the first-half score.
"The sun was in just the right spot in the sky," joked Rippon after the game. "But really, it was a lucky break."
Behind 1-0, Ellis fought back and had a good opportunity to tie when a pass from midfield found Adrian Armstrong on a break. But Whistler keeper Chris Rayner challenged hard forcing Armstrong to kick wide.
Whistler held on to the small lead to pick up three points in the standings and move ahead of Ellis Moving into fourth place.This Sunday (Nov. 11), Whistler has their hands full with first-placed United, while Ellis Moving hopes to play more than a friendly against LilWAT7uhl.
